Qatar: TM Office Remote Work Protocols and Filing Updates
Due to the ongoing implementation of remote work protocols, the Trademark Office in Qatar has announced a temporary suspension for the issuance of physical receipt for TM publication, opposition, registration and renewals actions which are paid manually at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry counter. In this respect, it should be noted that only by effecting the payment that the forgoing action is considered concluded.
Meanwhile, the TM office has confirmed that an additional grace period will be granted for any deadlines that expire during this period, with the specific duration of this extension to be announced at a later date.
Please note that this suspension does not apply to counterstatement filing against oppositions, or responding to office actions of trademark and patent actions which still must be submitted via email addresses to ensure they are recorded within the required timeframes.
Our firm is closely monitoring these developments to ensure that all electronic responses are filed promptly and that any pending physical submissions are finalized as soon as the Office resumes full services. We will provide further updates as soon as the Ministry issues additional guidance regarding the new grace period dates.
It is important to note that the Trademark Offices in the other GCC member states and Jordan have not issued similar notifications.
Oman: Reclassification Requirements and New Trademark Filing Policy
The Omani National Intellectual Property Office issued a notification on February 18, 2026, confirming that the Ministry is in the process of transitioning to the 13th Edition of the Nice Classification. However, the electronic filing system is still technically operating under the 11th Edition (2019 version).
The notification specifically addresses trademark registrations within Class 09, which traditionally covers items such as eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses. Because of the discrepancy between the active policy (13th Edition) and the current classification (11th Edition), some items of goods/service must move around classes once the 13th Edition of NCL is fully enforced. To ensure full protection, applicants may need to reclassify items during renewal or file new, independent applications for products that have shifted to different classes.
In the meantime, we have checked the matter directly with the trademarks office to find out that while the new policy is technically active, the final implementation on the digital portal is still pending.
Yemen- Aden: Over 6,000 Commercial Agencies and 900 Trademarks Removed from Official Records
The Ministry of Industry and Trade in Aden issued Ministerial Decisions No. (7) and (8) of 2026 mandating the formal cancellation of more than 900 trademarks and 6,000 commercial agencies from the official records. This action was taken primarily because the respective owners or their legal representatives failed to update or renew their registrations within the legally prescribed terms, leading the Ministry to remove these entries to ensure the integrity of the national registry.
The Ministry has indicated that this administrative step is part of a broader initiative to clean and modernize commercial records while enhancing the overall transparency of the market. By enforcing these cancellations, the authorities aim to highlight the critical importance of complying with legal deadlines to safeguard commercial and intellectual property rights. Maintaining an updated database is also intended to provide accurate and reliable data for future decision-making and to ensure that only active and legally compliant entities are recognized.
Kurdistan (Kurdistan Region of Iraq): Implementation of New Official Legalization Fees
Following a decree issued by the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Kurdistan Regional Government, new official fees have been introduced for local authentication of documents processed through the Kurdish Department of Foreign Relations. The current attestation fee is 75,000 IQD (approximately 57 USD) which were enforced as of 19 February 2026.
It is essential for all clients and associates to note that these regional fees are additional costs. They must be paid in addition to any existing legalization fees.